Steam plant



' through conduit I Patented Oct. 1926.

- UNITED STATES 1,601,882 PATENT; OFFICE.-

J'OHANNES BUTES, F IJJ 'P' RSHOLM, SWEDEN, .ASSIGNOR TO .AKTIEIBOLAGET VAPOR- ACKUMULATOR, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, A. QORPORATION OF SWEDEN.

' STEAM PLANT.

Application filed January 8, 1928, Serial 110. 611,535, and in Sweden January 13, 1922.

My invention relates to accumulation of heat in steam plants having a demand for hot water and more particularly to the automatic preparation and accumulation of hot water to normally obtain a constant pressure of hot water prepared, for the purpose of obtaining constant temperature, while steam generation is effected independently of demand for steam or hotwater and complete 0 equalization in the plant is obtained.

My invention involves a new type of antomatic controlled accumulator and a new method of operation of steam plants.

The invention is illustrated on the accompanving drawing of which 2-- Fig. 1 shows an accumulator equipped to carry out the present invention; and Fig.

2 shows a modified accumulator arrange-- ment. 1

In Fig. 1. reference character a designates a container operating as an accumulator, preferably made as an upright cylindrical vessel. Steam is supplied through pipe 0 which constitutes a source of variable steam supply and the steam flows out through nozzles d into the water space of the container (1. Container a is closed to the atmosphere.

Cold water is supplied to container a through the pipe 6 and through spraynozzle g. Flow through pipe 6 is controlled byvalve 7. Valve 7 is controlled by means of a regulator h which is responsive to static pressure within container a. "Pressure in container a acts through tube r against ,pis ton s which is connected to valve 7.- Arise of pressure in container a causes valve 7 to "increase its flow area, thereby increasing fiow of cold water through pipe 6 whereas,

upon decrease of the pressure actuating valve 7, the same is operated to decrease the flow of water through to open ata predetermined value of presupon the temperature of sure depending water desired. When the pressure rises above this predetermined value the valve opens;' when the pressure falls below'this value the valve closes.

Consumers are supplied with hot water The supply of hot water to the consumers may be in accordance with demand for hot water and entirely independent of the amount of steam passing through pipe a.

pipe 6. Valve f is set nated by reference character m. Steam, or-

dinarily the surplus generated steamof the plant, flows into pipe c from any place of steam supply in regular or irregular quantities according to plant characteristics. The steam flows into container a heating the water contents thereof, as a result of which the pressure rises. Rise of pressure in container a causes an opening or increase of opening of valve 7 and cold water flows through pipe e and through spray-nozzle 9 into the container so that steam in the upper part of the container a is condensed and the pressure and consequently the temperature fall to obtain a return to equilibrium.

If the steam supply decreases, the pressure in the steam space falls somewhat asa'resultof which valve 7 closes somewhat and reduces the supply of cold water so that water of a given temperature is again obto admit at all times a suflicient amount of water corresponding to the amount of steam supply to maintain a constant pressure and temperature of accumulated water.

When steam is extracted though pipe 1 the temperature will fall momentarily. Normally however the above regulation gives a constant temperature control.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement wherein container a is a small receptacle which-supplies prepared hot water through conduit k to an accumulator tank a this arrangement is the same as that of Fig. 1' except that the variation of water level corresponding to the state of charge. of the,

accumulator takes place in the larger tank a and not in container a.

y In plants where the present invention can I be applied, it has the advantage over the valve pressure type of accumulator in that the complete heat content of the accumulator is fully utilized.

In the warm'water accumulator of the present application, the water level m is a The operation of my invention, it is to be understood that this is merely by Way of example and that the invention is not limited to the embodi-- ments disclosed.

What I claim as by Letters is:- a

1. Accumulator apparatus for steam plants comprising a container, means to supply steam to said container. means to supply cold water to said container and Patent of the United States means movable in response to changes of static pressure 'in the container to control the cold Water supply.

2. Accumulator apparatus for steam plants comprising a container closed to the atmosphere, means to supply steam to said container, means to supply cold Water to said container and means responsive to changes of static pressure of steam in said container to control the cold water supply.

3. Accumulator apparatus for steam plants comprising a container, means to su plv steam to said container. means to supplv cold Water to said container and automatic pressure responsive means to control the cold Water supply and. operatingto maintain a constant pressure in said container.

4. Accumulator apparatus for steam plants comprising a container. means to supplv a varying quantitv of steam to said container, means to mix cold water with said steam [and pressure responsive means ,to maintain a constant temperature of the min ture.

5. Accumulator apparatus 'for steam plants comprising a container. a steam pi e conducting steam to said container. a cold water supply pipe conducting old Water to saidcontainer, a valve in said cold Water supplv pipe. a regulator responsive to pressure in said container to operate said valve by increasing the flow of cold water through said cold water supplv pipe "upon an increase of pressure in said container, and decreasing the said flow upon decrease of pressure in said container.

- 6. Steam accumulator apparatus for" steam plants com rising a container having a steam space and a Water space. a conduit leading steam into the Water space, a Water conduit leading water into the steam space. a spray device attached to the lastmentioned conduit, a valve in said Water con;

new and desire to secure duit, means responsive to the pressure-in said container to operate said valve, said means operatlng to open the valve when the pressure 1n said container r ses above a predetermined value and means to conduct hot Water from said container.

7. Those steps in the operation of a steam plant -which consist in conducting surplus steam to an accumulator, supplying cold Water to the accumulator. and regulating the cold Water supply in accordance with var atlons of static pressure in the accumulator.

sure in the accumulator.

9. In a steam plant, in combination, a constant pressure, variable water level accumulator closed to the atmosphere and containing Water at different heights for different times, a steam charging device in the Water space of the accumulator, steam to said steam charging device, means to supply cold Water to said accumulator to condense said steam and produce hot Water, said accumulator being constructed and arranged to store the hot Water produced until there is a demand for the hot Water and.

means responsive to pressure in the accumulator to control the supply of cold Water and operating to normally maintain a constant pressure in the accumulator.

10. In a steam accumulator, means to supply surplus steam generated over momentary steam demand to said accumulator, pressure controlled means to supply cold water to said accumulator in proportionto the steam supplied to obtain hot Water of given pressure, means to withdraw hot Water from said accumulator at a rate corresponding to the rate of demand for hot. Water, the difference between the hot Water demand and the hot Water pro.- duced being retained in the accumulator.

11. In a steam plant, in combination, a. source of variable steam supply, a constant pressure variable Water level accumulator, means to conduct steam from said source to said accumulator, means to supply cold Water to saidaccumulator, automatic means to control the cold Water supply in response to pressure in said accumulator and means to Withdraw hot water from said accumulator.

12. The method of generating and dis-' plant, in combination, an

8. In a steam plant, in combination, a con means to supply pensing energy in a steam plant which comprises generating -steam at a rate diflerent than the rate of steam demand, condensing surplus steam by means of cold water to such an extent as to obtain hot water in the presence of steam, regulating the supply of cold water so that the hot water produced by the mixing of steam and cold water is maintained at constant pressure, accumulating hot water thus produced and using the hot Water as desired.

13. In a steam plant, an accumulator comprising a container closed to the atmosphere and having a water space and a steam space,

- means to supply steam to-said accumulator,

means to supply cold water to said accumulator to condense said steam and produce hot water, said accumulator being constructed and arranged to store the hot water produced until there is a demand for hot water, means to withdraw cumulator, said accumulator, and pressure responsive hot water from said acmeans to withdraw steam from t means to control the supplyof cold water to maintain a constant pressure in the accu-.

mulator except when steam is withdrawn.

14. In a steam plant, an accumulator having a water space and a steam space, means to supply steam to said accumulator, means to supply cold water't'o said accumulator to condense said steam and produce hot water, said accumulator being constructed and arranged to store the hot water produced until there is a demand for hot water, means to withdraw hot Water from said accumulator, means to withdraw steam from said accumulator and pressure responsive means for controlling the supply of cold water to maintain a constant pressure in the accumulator when steam is not withdrawn, to shut off the cold water supply when steam is withdrawn and the pressure drops, and to admit cold water when the pressure rises again and a given value of pressure is reached.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

J OI-IANNES RUTHS, 

